As always, lots of worthwhile nuggets in Friedman’s 30 Thoughts.
4. Toronto will continue to negotiate a new contract with Jonathan Bernier, but it was an aggressive move to file for club-elected salary arbitration. They are sending a message there will be no dispute lasting into next season. There’s nothing wrong with taking a one-year deal heading into free agency and betting on yourself, but another exec made a good point: if the Maple Leafs really do strip it down, that’s tough for a goalie. Difficult to be successful in those circumstances. What’s Toronto offering with term? An average annual value of $4M, maybe?
I thought this was a clever move by the Leafs to opt for club-elected arbitration. Bernier’s numbers were pedestrian last season, and a significant part of that (to me) was how bad the team was (a great look here at save percentage as a team stat). The Leafs are facing another lean season next year, most likely. Knowing Bernier wants some term and a raise, opting for arbitration gives the Leafs a handy negotiation tool. It ensures Bernier is, at a minimum, coming to camp on a one-year deal and likely for less salary than he and his agent would like. As Friedman said, does Bernier really want to bet on having a massive contract-year season on a Leaf team that could be downright terrible? By using the arbitration option as leverage, the Leafs therefore make it easier to negotiate the purchase of a year or two of Bernier’s UFA eligibility at a cheaper price.
3. Toronto’s let it be known it will take salary back for Phil Kessel, but there is a limit. It’s got to be less (in term and value) than Kessel’s. The Maple Leafs are more interested in prospects and draft picks, but recognize that alone won’t get a deal done. Since the idea is to help create cap flexibility, it doesn’t make sense to receive a similar contract in return.
This seems to have opened a can of worms about the Leafs needing to take a contract back just to move Kessel off the team, but that’s clearly not what Friedman is referring to (thankfully). The Leafs should have oodles of cap space going forward after this summer’s moves. Selling Kessel for futures all but gives up on the next couple of seasons anyway, so taking on a contract with short to medium term in order to maximize the value of the other pieces in the deal is something the Leafs could handle (I say that without knowing the specifics; taking back Jussi Jokinen’s contract is different than, say, Stephen Weiss’). It also goes without saying that retaining salary for the duration of the contract — seven years — is a much different story.
2. The Maple Leafs sent out a communiqué last week indicating any team wanting to talk trade should go through assistant GM Kyle Dubas. This led to speculation maybe Dubas would be elevated to the full-time GM position, but that appears premature. Director of player personnel Mark Hunter is responsible for draft selections, so it doesn’t look like Toronto wanted to add another 72-ounce Lone Star steak to his plate. What it does say, though, is Brendan Shanahan really trusts Dubas. That’s big responsibility at this time in the franchise’s existence.
There had been talk about Shanahan wanting a point man for trade negotiations, and it’s kind of important. No matter how strong the communication is in the front office, having three different people talk to the same GM about the value of players is a recipe for disaster. Colour me a little surprised they went with the assistant general manager with the least experience and ostensibly the fewest connections/relationships around the League, though.
Sunday Links:
- David Johnson: Previewing the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Rebuild (MLHS)
The rebuild of the player roster has barely started. Obviously, there will be some tough decisions to make, and the answer to those tough decisions largely revolves around when one believes the window of opportunity opens for the Leafs to compete for the Stanley Cup.
I - Brock Otten: 2015 NHL Draft Profiles: Zachary Senyshyn (MLHS)
It’s all about upside when it comes to Senyshyn. Size and speed on the wing is not the easiest thing to find in the draft. I do truly believe in his potential and I think he’s the perfect player for today’s NHL. When he gets more ice time and responsibility next year, I expect his game to really explode.
I - Lance Hornby: Leafs’ Bernier wants long-term deal (Toronto Sun)
So it’s unlikely something won’t be ironed out before an actual arbitration hearing takes place in July or early August. A two- to three-year deal may also result, but the dollar value is in question as the shine came off Bernier after he debuted in 2013-14 with 26 wins and a .923 save percentage. That was the highest in team records since the stat was introduced in the early 1980s, but underlined a poor team defence in front of him.
I - Chris Nichols: NHL Insiders and Newsmakers: Week in Review (Today’s Slapshot)
Cam Talbot seems to be driving the goaltending market, Ryan O’Reilly trade talk has been heating up, and Eric Staal’s future in Carolina may be decided soon.
I - Alec Brownscombe: Leafs ‘very interested’ in Ryan O’Reilly, Red Wings out on Phaneuf? (MLHS)
Elliotte Friedman suggested today that the Leafs are still “very interested” in 24-year-old centerman and 2016-UFA-to be Ryan O’Reilly, with Joe Sakic starting to listen more intently on trade offers for obvious reasons.
I - Mark Easson: Rumors V: Leafs, Penguins, Islanders, Blackhawks and Capitals (MNTR)
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Mark Hunter is doing the draft for the Maple Leafs and Kyle Dubas is talking trade with teams.Hearing that Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock don’t love Phil Kessel and they want to move him. They want to make a ‘hockey trade.’ Both Shanahan and Babcock don’t dislike Dion Phaneuf the way they do with Kessel.
